Ed Smith spoke with two folks from Cancer Support Community Rochester. Sean Brooks, Golf Committee Co-chair and Associate Board Member and KC Kavanaugh
-Sean shared a personal story about cancer as his mom is a breast cancer survivor.
-He said that experience has given him a deeper understanding of what cancer patients and their families go through on a cancer journey.
-He was part of the Bachelor Auction event that Cancer Support Community hosts, a few years back and decided he wanted to give back to the community and in particular support cancer patients given his mom’s cancer diagnosis. He decided to join the Associate Board at Cancer Support Community.
-KC said she is friends with a person on the Associate Board and told them she wanted to volunteer and give back so they brought her to a Bachelor Auction event and she also decided to join the Associate Board.
-Sean said the Associate Board is a great opportunity for young professionals to get involved with the Cancer Support Community. It gives people who don’t necessarily have the financial means to support the organization a way to get involved. They volunteer their time to support different operations at Cancer Support Community, assist with promoting the services offered and help fundraise money with various events.
-He talked about some of the support services CSC offers to adults, teens and children affected by cancer. They try to make each member’s experience personalized as each cancer patient has different needs.
-They offer general and cancer specific support groups, they provide education and they offer a variety of healthy lifestyle programs.
-Sean talked about the food insecurity that 57% of their members face, which is why they just opened an emergency food pantry. The goal is to be a resource to the existing Food and Nutrition programs for people with cancer. They are offering 15 meal opportunities each month.
-The pantry will be stocked with nonperishable items, healthier options and restricted diet options.
-All of these programs and services are offered to their members at no cost so fundraising money is important.
-KC said that the Bachelor Auction from a few months ago was very successful, raising $100,000.
-KC said they are now working on their 4th annual Cancer Support Classic, golf tournament.
-She encouraged people to get involved and create a foursome with friends or coworkers.
-All of the money raised will stay local and support their members at Cancer Support Community.
-Sean and KC encouraged people to volunteer with Cancer Support Community and to consider joining the Associate Board.